Christianity by Sevens

First Section:
Bible reading by 7s Read 7 chapters a day.

OT Genesis - Song of Solomon
A chapter a day.

Psalms
A chapter a day

Proverbs and key Bible chapters
A chapter a day. Read Proverbs a chapter a day. When you get through the book of Proverbs then read one chapter a day from your list of key Bible chapters.

Here are my list of key chapters. Change this list to fit your needs.
   Joshua 1               Romans 4, 8, 12
   Judges 6,7            1 Cor 13,14        1 Samuel 17        2 Cor 4,5
   2 Kings 4             Eph 1,3,6   Nehemiah 4         Phil 2,3
   Isaiah 6, 35, 40, 42, 49, 52, 53, 55, 58, 60
    Jeremiah 12,18,23     1 Tim 6    Hosea 6      2 Peter 1
   Ezekiel 22                  Heb 3,4,10,11
     Daniel 3                     James 1 2,3 4 5  
     1 Jn 2,3  Matt 5, 6, 7, 25           Psalm 91
    Luke 12,16, 18            Psalm 34    John 14,15,16
When you get done with the key chapters go back to reading Proverbs.

Prophets Isaiah - Malichi
A chapter a day

Matthew - Acts
A chapter a day

Romans - Revelation
2 Chapters a day

This does not have to be all at once. Sometimes I read like the list below.
Read 2 chapters when you get up.
Read one at breakfast.
Read one at lunch.
Read one at supper.
Read one after supper.
Read one before bed.

When you get through a section just start it over again.

Second Section:
Commit to praying each day of the week.
1 In your Bible reading pray over an area that speaks to you.
2 Pray for your family and friends.
3 Pray for Missionaries you know.
4 Pray for yourself, your health, your job and ministry, your finances, your future and your walk with the Lord.
5 Pray for your leaders.
6 Pray for the world in the news.
7 Pray for God to speak to you at night when you sleep.
Write down what you hear from the Lord when you wake up.


Third Section:
Commit to meditating on a verse for 7 days.
Read that verse multiple times in a day and have it memorized at the end of the week.


Forth Section:
Share your faith with 7 people a week.
Evangelism, acts of kindness, hand out gospel tracts.


Fifth Section:
Write about your faith in Christ. Journal your thoughts from your Bible reading.
Study a passage of Scripture and write your study out.


Sixth Section:
Get and stay in fellowship. Go to church each week. Worship and give thanks to God daily.Seek to have close friends.


Seventh Section:
Give at least 10% of your gross income to God.
Church, missionaries, charitable outreaches


None of this makes me worthy. I am worthy because of the blood of Jesus. All this is done to come closer to God.

Freely Give

Romans 8:21
“that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.”

When Christians walk in freedom they walk in God's glory. Walking in God's glory is walking in God's power. Living in God's glory and power will give us victory over the problems that we face. The earth itself can be changed by faith. John 14:12; various Scriptures of Jesus having power over this world.

Always remember that having power without the willingness to live through the suffering (Romans 8:17) of the gospel negate faith and express selfishness. We can't live in the power of God and live in selfishness at the same time. (Also unforgiveness Mark 11:25; Pride Habakkuk 2:4 John 5:44)

The freedom that comes from Jesus will give us the power to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. When we learn to freely receive from Christ we can freely give. Matthew 10:8

Romans 5:1-5 teaches that God's grace comes by our accepting it by faith. Faith accepts God's grace and also looks to Christ instead of the flesh when trials come. We rejoice in Christ in the trial Romans 5:3 not because of the trial but because of the confidence that we have in Christ. There is victory in life. We don't fear an evil report, because  of our trust in God. Psalm 112:7 Trials just bring us into more glory and victory.

Our hope will not disappoint because the love of God brings us victory. Romans 5:5; Rom 8:39; Love brings the ultimate victory. Jesus overcame the world by His love expressed on the cross. The baton has been passed to us and we overcome the world by living in the spirit and not the flesh. Romans 8:5-13. We live in the Spirit Rom 8:13 and bring this life, John 6:63 taught in the Scriptures and experienced by having a relationship with Christ. And the relationship with Christ is expressed by loving others with faith in practical ways.

Understanding Scripture is not just mental assent. Our minds need to be renewed with the Scriptures so that when we go through trials of life we respond from our hope in Christ and the promises from the Scriptures instead of our minds and natural selfish defense or desires. Trials are a test of faith. How we respond shows if we are passing the test (2 Cor 13:5) or not. If I am not passing the test, I continue to renew my mind in Jesus. Romans 12:1,2.

If I am passing the test, I should continue to renew my mind as I meditate on Scripture. Psalm 1:2,3; Joshua 1:8; John 15:7

Freedom comes from knowing the truth. John 8:31,32. But again knowledge of Scripture is not mental assent but is spiritual knowledge which is expressed by works. If we don't use spiritual knowledge we really don't know what we think we know. James 1:22 We come to know by hearing and doing not just by hearing. Faith without works is dead. James 2:17 The way to learn spiritual knowledge is to hear and believe and apply what we believe with love towards others. Sunday morning church often times does not provide this outlet for learning. After the morning teaching the word they heard is plucked out of their heart Matthew 13:19; Mark 4:15; Luke 8:5  (notice I did not say out of their mind) and becomes just a vague memory or for the diligent a point of arrogance. 1 Cor 8:1.

Let us not be sluggish or arrogant, but instead let us respond to Christ and His teachings in love for others. Freely you have received, freely give.

Hebrews 6:11, 12 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end,so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Mercy and Abiding

Lightening shredded wood fibres.

 So here is the idea of Hebrews 4:16 of coming to God to receive mercy and grace not on the basis of works but on the basis of Christ's blood. We don't come to God on our works but on Christ's blood. So how does that line up with John 15:7 that if we abide in the Word and in Jesus we can get our prayers answered?

There are 2 points here. One is if a person is sowing to the wind, and sowing to the wind, and sowing to the wind and reaping the whirlwind and their life is crazy and confused and turned over, they can go to God for help. But you are not going to go to God after spending years of sowing to the wind and come out of prayer and be an on fire evangelist with miracles following the next day.

We approach God for mercy and grace by the blood of Jesus. But we don't advance the kingdom of God by just being humble. God wants faith. Heb 11:6; Col 2:6; Hab 2:4. As we spend time with God and His word faith is built. We can from this faith get answers to prayer if we still approach God in humility not from our works and of study and prayer and meditation but still on the basis of the blood of Jesus.

So on the one hand we are working, meditating and seeking God. And on the other hand we approach God on the basis of His blood, not our good works. That does not mean our good works are for nothing. Our works of faith with love from obedience advance the kingdom. This only happens as we pray and pave the way with prayer from approaching God from our humble approach trusting God because of the blood of Jesus.

The 2 go hand in hand. Humble prayer trusting in the blood of Jesus. And aggressive works of faith from obedience, coming from being with God and His word. And you don't have these aggressive works of faith without a fight in prayer. There is the humble prayer for guidance with mercy and grace and there is the prayer of fighting to gain the victory. Now if you are like I have been you go out without fighting in prayer to gain the victory and you get beat up by the enemy. I have learned you have to fight in prayer also.

Romans 8:11 IF. If is a big word in this verse. Do we assume we have the Holy Spirit living within if we have our mind in the gutter watching TV. Do we assume we have the Spirit living within if we are lusting after material things instead of meditating on God's word. Do we assume we have the Spirit of God, the creator of the heavens and the earth living within if we are complaining of some puny problem? Or do we have the Spirit of God living within when we are wasting  time instead of utilizing the gift of time God has given us? Can we have the Spirit living within if our mind is on the flesh?

Just as there is a difference between getting the Spirit of God at salvation, Ephesians 1:13 and getting the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:4. There is a difference between having the Spirit of God from salvation and having the Spirit of God live within Romans 8:11; John 14:23 John said in Revelation 1:10 that he was in the Spirit on the Lord's day. Meaning that it was possible for this apostle to not be in the Spirit at times. This is the question of Romans 8:11 Are we in the Spirit now? The simple prayer of Hebrews 4:16 gets us back in the Spirit. Faith on the other hand, takes some effort and focus and does not flow from a lukewarm heart.

People reason that we have the Spirit Eph. 1:13 and we approach God because of the blood Heb 4:16. Therefore we can pray and get anything we want. That we are OK with God and living the lukewarm life is fine. Now people don't say then are living the lukewarm life. But they are deceived if they think they can watch movies and TV 10 or 20 hours a week and many more hours in amusements and pray 10 minutes and just read a couple of chapters of the Bible a day. NO. To live this way is not living humble before God. James 4:6 says that God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble people will repent from living a lukewarm life. Humble people will change to serve God from fear and then continuing on to serve from love. If we don't repent of our lukewarmness we are continuing in pride. We can't serve God effectively with pride. Pride needs to be done away with and then faith will grow.

Victory

Stay in peace. Stay in the Word. Go about your work and shout victory.

Praying through to a breakthrough. Philippians 4:6-9; Luke 18:1-8; 1 Kings 17:41-46;
Pray with faith Matthew 17:20
Take risks from your prayers Heb 12:14 Holy living (living for the purpose of God) brings us to    God. With God we have the victory.

Thankfulness brings us in union with the Spirit.
Phil 4:6
Elisha asking for music 2 Kings 3:15
David playing the harp 1 Sam. 16:23
Army with singers in front 2 Chronicles 20:21
Church people will (should) encourage you. Hebrews 10:25

Letting the Word richly dwell within you. Colossians 3:16; Romans 12:1,2; John 15:7; Josh 1:8; Ps 1:3
Meditate; follow & live it;

Let God's Word bring peace. John 16:33; Psalm 29:11; Ps 119:165; Isa. 26:3; John 14:27; Phil. 4:7;
Go with this peace Isaiah 55:12

Go about your work:
If your living the Word and have peace, go about your work.
Joshua marching all night. Joshua 10:9
Nehemiah building the wall. Neh. 4:15,16
Arise and shine for Christ. Your light has come. Isaiah 60:1

Shout Victory
Marching around Jericho Joshua 6
Crossing the Red Sea Ex 15
Psalm 91:2
Shouting grace Zech 4:7
Psalm 40:1-3

If you can't accomplish this break it down into smaller steps until you can do it.

Stay in peace. Stay in the Word. Go about your work and shout victory.

Psalm 91 video

http://www.crosswalk.com/video/must-see-version-of-psalm-91-has-taken-us-by-storm.html?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=fbpage&utm_campaign=cwupdate

A good video of Psalm 91, but they stopped at verse 9. Should have done the whole Psalm.

Psalm 91:1 Abiding

I twisted the camera to get this picture of this twisted sycamore. An unusual tree looking for light.

The  actions of Psalm 91

Psalm 91:1" He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty."

The promises of Psalm 91 are not given to all. They are given to the people that are described in the Psalm. Reading the Psalm shows what we can become part of this protection God is offering.

Where we live speaks volumes about us. It talks about our values our personality our ability and our life and how we live it. Where we live shows where we work. We are identified with that part of the country. A person living in Indiana is called a Hosier. Israel's tribes lived in different parts of Israel. Psalm 91:1 Talks of living with and abiding with God.

4 Areas of Abiding

1 Read/Study
Daily devotions, reading the Bible and listening to the Holy Spirit in your reading. Studying the Scriptures and gaining insight on life. This reading and studying as we comune with God is part of abiding and dwelling with God.

2 Pray/Seek
Stay in the Word with an attitude of prayer. This is not an intellectual activity but is a relationship with God. John 5:39,40; Eph 6:17,18
Pray, commune with God about your day and about your needs.
Seek God for His direction for you. Eph 2:10

3 Worship God for His goodness, and for the life He has given you.

4 Serve God by bearing fruit. 1 Cor 15:58

John 15 is the abiding chapter. We are energized by living with Jesus and relying on Him. For without Him we can do nothing. The Father is the vine dresser and will prune us and mold us to His liking. Jeremiah 18 is of the potter that fastens a pot according to his liking. God wants to mold us but if we don't respond we will be broken. Why not yield to the Lord and His direction so that we may escape the discipline on those who rebel.

Willingness to be molded by God shows a trust and belief in Him. There is great protection for those who choose to believe.

Light Shines in Darkness

2 Corinthians 4:6 “ For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” NASB

For God Who said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts so as [to beam forth] the Light for the illumination of the knowledge of the majesty and glory of God [as it is manifest in the Person and is revealed] in the face of Jesus Christ (the Messiah). Amplified

 It started when God said, “Light up the darkness!” and our lives filled up with light as we saw and understood God in the face of Christ, all bright and beautiful.   Message

For God who said
“It all starts with what God says. John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word. Genesis 1:3 “Then God said, “Let there be light and there was light.”” It is the same with us. Job 22:28 “You will also decree a thing, and it will be established for you;
And light will shine on your ways.”

It all starts with what we say. Or does it? True we need to say what needs to be done first. Yet go back to Genesis. God spoke and light became. Yet before God spoke, in verse 2 the Spirit of the God was moving over the surface of the waters. We can't speak with authority unless we are moving with the Spirit of God. The Spirit of God moves then we move as He is moving. We speak as He wishes us to speak.

Jesus did not speak on His own initiative.
John 12:49 "For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak.”

We speak as we are led by God. That is the same as praying in Jesus name. We can pray with authority and we can speak with authority. We can pray with confidence and we can speak with confidence. We can pray with power and we can speak with power. Just as Mark 11:23,24 teach. But just as in Mark 11:23,24 there is a prerequisite of faith before there can be power. We can also speak when we have faith first. And where does faith come from? It comes from hearing God's word with our spiritual ears. Revelation 2 & 3 says 7 times he who has ears to hear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Do we have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying? We can with the willingness of living for Christ and not for ourselves. The context of 2 Corinthians 4:6 is death to self. We don't live for ourselves, but we live for the purpose of God. John 6:38 "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.”

We can have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying when we have a desire to do the will of God.